Flying-machine.



J. J. DILLON.

FLYING MACHINE.

1 APPLICATION mum MAR. 25, 1911.

1,01 1,761. Patented Dec.12,1911.

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J. J. DILLON.

FLYING MACHINE. I APPLIUATIOH mun an as. 1911.

1,011,761, Patented Dec. 12,1911.

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J/Jm/ 172 J. LLON.

FLY AGHINE.

APPLICATION IILED MAR. 25, 1911.

1,011,761. Patented Dec. 911.

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JESSE J. DILLON, OF COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

Application fil'ed March 25, 1911. m Serial No. 616,803.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn J. DILLON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Council Bluffs, in the county of Pottawattamie and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of'which the following is a specification. 1 v

This invention relates to flying machines of the heavier-than-air type, and has for its objects the production of a machine employing rotary propellers of novel construction and operating as lifting and driving propellers and sustaining elements; to provide an arrangement of parts whereby the center of gravity of the machine is placed at a low point, rendering the machine inherently stable; and to provide a novel construeti n and arrangement of parachute device whic may be thrown into operation to insure a safe descent when occasion requires.

The invention consists of the feature 'of construction, combination and arrangement of. parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a flying machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the line 33 of Fig, 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through one of thepropellers. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse section through the upper portion of the machine, showing the parachute folded. Fig. 6 is a similar view, showing the parachute unfolded for use.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a suspension tube or pipe carrying at its lower end a car or basket 2, to support the driving motor, pilot, passengers, if any, and the controlling devices ofthe machine. Supported upon this suspension tube is a driving propeller 3 operative by suitable gearing from the motor 4. Projecting forwardly and rearwardly from the suspension tube at and above the car are front and rear frames or Outriggers 5 and (3, preferably of substantially V-form, and cooperating to provide a suitably trussed triangular frame structure carrying a front horizontal rudder 7 and a rear vertical rudder 8, which may be supported by suitable frame connections leading therefrom to the car or basket 2. The rudder 7 is preferably of the box-type, having upper and lower curved surfaces, so

that by adjustment its angle of inclination may be changed to effect the ascent or descent of the machine.

Mounted upon the opposite sides of the frame structure 5 and 6 are vertical shafts 9 and 10 arranged in parallel relation to the upper end of the suspension tube and driven by suitable gearing from the motor. These shafts carry oppositely rotating lifting and sustaining wheels or propellers 11 and 12, each consisting of a frame structure carryin an annular series of lifters 13. Each 0 these lifters has approximately the form of a box kite, with its air passage facin in the direction of rotation, said lifter being inclined at an angle to the horizontal, so that its upper and lower walls present the necessary angle of incidence for a supporting action upon the air. The said lifting propellers are rotated in opposite directions to maintain the lateral balance of the machine under ordinary conditions, so that the thrust of each propeller will oppose the thrust of the other to prevent deflection of the machine from its prescribed course.

It will be understood that through the operation of the lifting propellers, the machine may be elevated to the desired altitude, and the speed of said propellers then slackened to adapt them to serve as sustaining elements, while the propeller 3 is employed to drive the machine forward. Upon reducing the speed of the lifting propellers below sustentation speed, it will, of course, be understood that the machine may be allowed to descend at any rate of speed desired, thus enabling it to be safely controlled. By constructing the gearing in such manner as to drive the lifting propellers through independent sets of gearing, said propellers may be driven at different rates of speed when desired, so that they may be employed for a lateral balancing action when necessary.

Extending at its lower end downwardly into the upper end of the suspension tube 1 is a s aff 14, the upper end of which projects above the level of the lifting propellers and carries an umbrella-shaped parachute 15, the folding ribs of wh ch are attached to gables or cords 16 leading down into the space between the staff and wall of the tube 1 and connected with a collar or sleeve 17 slidably embracing the lower end of the staff. Connected with said sleeve is a rope or cord 18, leading downwardly through the suspension tube'to the ar or msket 2 and adapted to be engaged with a suitable holder 19, whereby the cords 16 may be drawn down to fold the parachute and maintain it in folded position. If at any time the machine should become inoperative from the failure of the motor or damage .to the proellers, or either cause, the pilot by releasing the controlling rope may free the parachute, allowing it to spread open and fill with air to secure'the safe descent of the machine to the ground.

It will be observed that the car is arranged below the supporting surfaces so that the, weight'will be placed at such a low point that the center of gravity of the machine will be beneath the supporting surfaces, whereby the car and lower portion of the suspension tube are adapted to serve the function of a gravity controlling element ing propeller mounted upon the tube within the inclosure formed by said frame structure, and horizontal and vertical rudders at' the front and rear of the frame, structure,

' a pair of upright shafts mounted upon the upper portion of the frame structure, horizontally disposed liftinfipropellers mounted upon said upright sha s 0 on opposite sides the upper end of the suspenslon tube, a motor upon the car, gearing for driving the propellers from the motor, a staff arranged above the lifting ropellers and having its lower end fitted wlthin the upper end of the suspension tube, a parachute carried by said stafi', and controlling means connected with the parachute and extending through the suspension tubeto the car for normally holding the parachuteclosed and releasing it to permit it to open and fill. A

2. A flyingma'chine comprising a vertical suspension tube, frame structures of substantiallytriangular form in plan and side elevation arranged on opposite sides of and secured to said tube between its upper and I shafts upon said frame structures, oppo-- I sitely rotatable horizontal lifting wheels upon said shafts at opposite sides of the upper end of'the suspension tube, a driving propeller supported by the suspension tube within the space inclosed by the frame structures, a motor on the car, gearing for driving the propellers from said motor, a stat? arranged above the lifting wheels and having its lower end fitted within the upper end of the suspension tube, a parachute -supported by said staff, a sleeve slidably mounted upbn the shaft withinthe suspension tube, cords connecting said sleeve with the parachute, and a holding and releasing cord connected with the sleeve and extending downwardly through the suspension tube into the car.

Sfln a flying machine, a framework, a suspension tube carrying the framework and extending above and below the same, a car the staff within the suspension tube, cords connecting the parachute with said sleeve, a controlling cord connected with the sleeve and extending downwardly through the suspension tube, and means with which the said cord is adapted to be engaged to hold the parachute normally collapsed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JESSE J. DILLON.

Witnesses:

FRANK M. OwnNs, WILLIAMH. KUHN." 

